Native peoples of the Great Plains
Grade 7 Social Studies Worksheet
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Horses and bison on the Plains
Topic What we know Horses a 2023 study with Lakota, Comanche and Pawnee scholars found that horses were part of Indigenous life by the early 1600s; older accounts said horses spread only after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 Bison before an estimated 30 to 60 million bison (estimates vary) Bison low point fewer than 1,000 bison by the 1890s Why bison almost vanished settlers moving west were the main cause; an Army directive to destroy bison as a way to control American Indians, cattle diseases and drought added to it Bison today more than 60 tribes are bringing bison back to their lands Below the chart: for thousands of years, Native peoples relied on bison for food, clothing, shelter, tools and jewelry. Data: National Park Service and National Science Foundation.
By the chart, how many bison were there before the decline, Bo asks?
- Exactly 45 million
- An estimated 30 to 60 million
- Exactly 60 million, each one counted by hand
- Fewer than 1,000
By the chart, when were there fewer than 1,000 bison, Esme asks?
- By 1680
- By the 1990s
- By the 1890s
- By the early 1600s
By the chart, what was the main cause of the bison's near-loss, Kira asks?
- Tribes bringing bison back
- A long drought alone
- Settlers moving west
- Cattle diseases alone
By the chart, which government action added to the bison's near-loss, Luz asks?
- An Army directive to destroy bison
- Tribes bringing bison back to their lands
- A law that protected the herds
- A 2023 study of horses
By the chart, what is happening with bison today, Milo asks?
- More than 60 tribes are bringing bison back
- Settlers are moving west again
- Bison are back to an estimated 30 to 60 million
- Horses are spreading after 1680
Which claim about horses does the chart support, Noah asks?
- Horses first came to the Plains in the 1890s
- Horses reached the Plains after 1680, as the study found
- Horses were part of Indigenous life by the early 1600s
- The 2023 study agreed with the older accounts
Which claim about bison numbers does the chart support, Pia asks?
- Bison fell from millions to fewer than 1,000
- Bison numbers stayed steady through the 1800s
- Bison are back to 60 million today
- Bison fell from 60 million to exactly 1,000
Which claim about the causes does the chart support, Ren asks?
- The chart names no causes
- Drought was the one cause
- Cattle diseases were the one cause
- Several causes added to the bison's near-loss
Why does the chart give 30 to 60 million, not one number, Tala asks?
- The number grew from 30 to 60 million
- Bison were counted exactly in two years
- Estimates vary, so the chart gives a range
- 60 million is a later count than 30 million
Which word in the chart shows that the 30 to 60 million figure is not exact, Zee asks?
- estimated
- fewer
- million
- bison
